More support is needed for people who care for relatives and friends, an MP has urged.

There are increasing numbers of carers who devote more than 50 hours a week to looking after others, and they need more support from health authorities, GPs and social services, Labour`s Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles S) said.

Among the army of carers exist a growing number of children, many of whom have not informed their schools of the extra burden placed on them, as they face caring for a parent or sibling. Ms Keeley also said carers were often more likely to suffer ill-health themselves.

Introducing her Carers (Identification and Support) Bill Ms Keeley said: "We have a population that is living longer and living more often with dementia, illness or a long-term condition.

"It has become clear that more and more families are stepping in to provide full-time and high levels of care."

The Bill, which has cross-party backing from MPs, would require GPs and PCTs to identify carers and direct them to appropriate support organisations.

It would also require schools to have written policies in place to support young carers, who were often treated as truants for taking time off, she claimed.

The Bill was given an unopposed first reading, but stands little chance of becoming law without Government backing.

Copyright ⌐ Press Association 2010

Five million people in England act as a carer for an elderly, sick or disabled person, official statistics have shown, with one in five of that number working more than 50 hours a week.

The NHS Information Centre said nearly half (48%) put in more than 20 hours each week, with 30% providing 35 or more.

In all, the percentage of carers aged 16 and over working 50 hours or more has more than doubled in the past nine years from 10% to 22%

More than a third (35%) of the total figure look after a parent, while 27% care for their spouse or partner.

One in 10 tend to a friend or neighbour, 14% for their child, 9% for a parent-in-law, 5% for a grandparent and 9% for other relatives.

Nearly half (47%) said the quality of their life was "all right", while 36% said it was either "good, very good or could not be better".

The remaining 17% claimed their quality of life was either "bad, very bad or so bad it could not be worse".

NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: "The report suggests that the majority of carers are female, most are from a white ethnic background and nearly half of those known to councils are aged 65 or over.

Copyright ⌐ Press Association 2010